Vis Com Exam

Point

  • A mark, not always circular.

  • Creates shade, tone, or texture.

  • Used in half-tone printing, pixilation, dot rendering.

  • Can mark positions on a map or highlight information in text (dot points).

Tone

  • Variation of light or dark of any color.

  • Describes 3D form through shadows and highlights.

  • In digital media: a gradient (smooth or created by dots/lines).

  • Varies in subtlety and drama.

Line

  • Continuous mark: straight, curvy, textured, etc.

  • Creates shade, tone, texture via hatching.

  • Denotes direction, boundaries, and perspective.

  • Used in technical drawing (outline, edges, dimensions).

Texture

  • Communicates a tactile feel (real or implied).

  • Created with point, line, or other elements.

  • Used in patterns, material finishes, or abstract styles.

  • Combined with tone to enhance depth.

Shape

  • Enclosure: outline or filled area.

  • Can be organic, geometric, abstract, or symbolic.

  • Creates form, pattern, or structure in design.

Colour

  • Perceived light in different wavelengths.

  • Relationships shown on the color wheel: complementary, contrasting, harmonious.

  • Enhances form, creates hierarchy, and evokes emotion.

  • Additive (RGB) for screens, subtractive (CMYK) for print.

  • Precision through Pantone, RGB, CMYK, and hexadecimal systems.

Form

  • 3D entity in visual communication.

  • Can be real (construction) or illustrated.

  • Created with point, line, shape, and enhanced with tone, texture, and color.

Type

  • Visual representation of words/numbers/characters.

  • Communicates literal meaning and visual quality.

  • Typefaces: serif, sans serif, decorative.

  • Can be extended, condensed, bold, italic, 3D.

  • Can be created digitally or by hand.

Here are the key points for each concept, condensed for flashcards:

Hierarchy

  • Sequence in which a design is read or viewed.

  • Captures attention, then conveys information in a diminishing order.

  • Created using scale, contrast, color, or positioning.

  • Applied in print media, websites, environmental design, and industrial design.

Contrast

  • Deliberate use of opposing qualities (color, size, shape, texture, type).

  • Creates emphasis, focal points, and visual tension.

  • Separates parts of a design and adds interest.

  • Enhances memorability and engagement.

Scale

  • Relative size of components in visual communication.

  • Variation in size creates depth and hierarchy.

  • Used in maps, diagrams, technical drawings, and models.

Cropping

  • Removing or framing part of an image to improve composition.

  • Focuses attention on a specific element.

  • Implies elements extend beyond boundaries.

  • Enhances visual impact and balance.

Proportion

  • Size, scale, and ratio of elements in relation to each other.

  • Ensures harmonious, visually pleasing balance.

  • Can exaggerate elements for emphasis (e.g., oversized features for attention).

Figure-Ground

  • Ability to distinguish the main object (figure) from the background (ground).

  • Based on contrast, color, size, and position.

  • Can create visual interest when figure and ground are ambiguous.

Balance

  • Arrangement of components in relation to a central axis.

  • Symmetrical balance: mirrored components for stability.

  • Asymmetrical balance: off-center components for dynamism.

  • Affects visual appeal and physical stability in design.

Pattern

  • Repetition or alternation of design elements in an organized way.

  • Created with lines, shapes, colors, and textures.

  • Adds visual interest, movement, and balance.

  • Can be repetitive or alternating; used in textiles, branding, and more.

  • Messages

    • Involves design projects like brand strategy, advertising, wayfinding, social media, and more.

    • Includes visual merchandising, publications, signage, illustrations, and packaging.

    • Can be applied to products and collateral.

    • Objects

    • Involves design projects like:

      • Products, packaging, furniture, homewares.

      • Transport, appliances, tools, machinery.

      • Costumes, toys, devices, and displays.

  • Environments

    • Involves design projects like:

      • Residential and commercial buildings, interiors.

      • Performance spaces, exhibition spaces, parks, streetscapes, gardens.

Interactive Experiences

  • Involves design projects like:

    • Customer touchpoints, wayfinding systems, and interfaces.

    • Physical spaces and digital devices (apps, online platforms, social networking services).

  • S

    Substitute

    Replace a part, material, or process with something else.

    Combine

    A

    Adapt

    MI

    Modify

    Put to another use

    E

    Eliminate

    Join elements, ideas, or

    Tunctions

    together in new ways - or find a new element you can merge with.

    Modify something to better suit a new purpose, person or context.

    Enlarge, reduce, change the shape, or alter attributes. Can a small change have a big effect?

    Rather than changing the thing itself, consider changing the context it exists in.

    Remove elements, simplify, or pare down to essentials.

    Is less more?

    R

    Reverse

    Flip the script, re-order your priorities, invert cause and effect, and turn it all

    upside-down.

Scamper

Substitute, combine, adapt, modify, put to another use, eliminate, reverse

FaT CaT SPLaT

form tone colour texture shape point line texture

SHe PiC PiC BeeF

scale, hierarchy, proportion, contrast, pattern, cropping, balance, figure

One-Point Perspective

  • Represents form/space with true measurements, parallel to the picture plane.

  • Lines recede to one vanishing point on the horizon line.

  • Used by environmental designers for interior design.

  • Vanishing point's position is set by the viewer’s position.

Two-Point Perspective

  • Represents form/space as viewed from a corner.

  • Closest vertical line sets object dimensions and proportions.

  • Lines recede to two vanishing points (left and right), situated on the horizon line.

  • Horizon line (eye level) and vanishing point distance set by viewer’s position.

Planometric Drawing

  • A type of axonometric projection where the object is viewed from above, with all three axes at 45° to the horizontal.

  • Horizontal lines are drawn at 45° angles, and vertical lines remain upright.

  • Objects appear distorted but maintain accurate proportions along the axes.

  • Commonly used for technical illustrations, architectural layouts, and floor plans.

  • Ideal for showing an object’s top view and side details simultaneously.

Isometric Drawing

  • A type of paraline/axonometric drawing.

  • Objects are projected onto oblique planes for visualization and presentation.

  • Set up with axes 30° from horizontal (using a 30/60° set square or digital tools).

  • Right angles on top surfaces shown at 120°.

  • True measurements can be used along each axis, making it easy to translate 2D to 3D.

  • Required proficiency in both manual and digital methods for Visual Communication Design.

Developmental Drawings

  • Visualize design ideas, including:

    • Rapid sketches, digital or manual.

    • Rendered drawings, schematic diagrams, ideation sketches, storyboards, mock-ups, and illustrations.

Documentation Drawings

  • Define and record technical specifications.

    • 2D: Floorplans, elevations, orthogonal drawings, packaging nets, technical flats.

    • 3D: Isometric, perspective, planometric drawings.

Presentation Drawing

  • Conveys resolved design concepts for presentation.

Planometric Drawing Tips

  • Draw with a 45/45° set square.

  • Position plan rotated by 45° and raise vertical lines for walls.

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